Indication display and storage system for a centralized traffic control system for railroads



STATION NO.|

Marc 30, 1965 R. F. ALBRIGHTON 3,176,127

' INDICATION DISPLAY AND STORAGE SYSTEM FOR A CENTRALIZED TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR RAILROADS Filed June 3, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 STATION No.2 FfTzKu CONTROL OFFICE R.F.ALBR|GHTON HIS ATTORNEY March 30, 1965 R. F. ALBRIGHTON 3,176,127 INDICATION DISPLAY AND STORAGE SYSTEM FOR A CENTRALIZED TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR RAILROADS Filed June 3, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. R.F.ALBRIGHTON 7 HIS; A'II'TORNEY 93mm $0528 v 292052. 6 2 5m I 5m 55% n 55 ok VE n P6328 mm 2 5m 5 $5 op YL 923%. 2955981 9 T9 Tm. T9 2: I M68 2925 I I I I I ow xm IE mm mm E mm Ii m? H .5 H on; o9.

March 30, 1965 Filed June 3, 1959 R. F. ALBRIGHTON 3,176,127

INDICATION DISPLAY AND STORAGE SYSTEM FOR A CENTRALIZED TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR RAILROADS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 R.F.ALBRIGHTON HIS ATTORNEY M h 3 1965 R. F. ALBRIGHTON 3,176,127

INDICATION DISPLAY AND STORAGE SYSTEM FOR A CENTRALIZED I TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR RAILROADS Filed June 3, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 3.

INDICATION AND CODE CHART INDICATION |ND|CATOR BUSES SWITCH SIGNAL DISPLAY I 2 3 4 5 o N STOP o N LEFT l O O N N RIGHT o o l R STOP I 0 o L...... l I 0 R LEFT o I R RIGHT o o I UL BLANK l o o INDICATION AND CODE CHART INDICATION INDICATOR BUSES FIG.4. swITcI-I sIGNAL DlSPP-AY I 2 3 4 5 N STOP G o N LEFT :I o O I---I N RIGHT I o o I" l R STOP I- o o R LEFT FKL o o L INVENTOR. R RIGHT E 0 o R.F.AI BRIGHTON HIS ATTORNEY United States Patent York Filed June 3, 1959, Ser. No. 817,841 18 Claims. (Cl. 246220) This invention relates to an indication display and storage system for a centralized trafiic control system for railroads, and more particularly pertains to such a system in which changeable display and storage indicators are disposed adjacent intersections of the tracks on a miniature track diagram.

The control panels employed in centralized trafi'ic control systems usually provide for the indication of the position of the various track switches and the conditions of the associated signals governing trafiic over them. One of the problems in such an indication system has been to provide an adequate number of diiferent indications to display all of the conditions involved in the control of the switches and signals in such a manner as to be clearly readable from various angles of vision in front of the control panel and under various conditions of lighting. Such prior systems have also required considerable apparatus in the form of relays and like apparatus in order to give the appropriate controls for the indication display means.

When employing such control panels, it is the usual practice for the controller to operate a track switch lever to either a normal position or a reverse position according to the position to which he desires to operate the track switch. In either operated position of the track switch, a switch repeater relay at the field location is operated to indicate that the track switch is locked in its normal or reverse position. Such relay usually takes the form of a polar-neutral relay which includes two different polar energized conditions, one for indicating the normal position and the other for indicating the reverse position, and a neutral energized condition for indicating the locked condition of the track switch. Polar contacts representing the two difierent polar energized conditions and a neutral contact representing a neutral energized condition of a relay are employed to complete circuits for indicating that the track switch is in a normal locked position or a reverse locked position. Upon unlocking of the track switch, either manually or otherwise, the neutral relay contact is dropped away which prevents completion of such circuits. Non-completion of all such circuits is efiective to indicate that the track switch is in its unlocked condition. An out-of-correspondence condition exists where the switch lever is operated to a position different than the actual position of a track switch or the actual track switch is operated manually or otherwise to a different locked position or to its unlocked condition.

Generally speaking, and without any attempt to define the exact scope of the present invention, it is proposed in accordance therewith to provide a display device adjacent a miniature track diagram in such a way that a large number of different conditions can be displayed. It is further proposed that this display device should also be capable of storing dilferent indication conditions in such a way as to simplify the circuit organization required for the control of the associated apparatus.

More specifically, it is proposed to provide a changeable display indicator to provide visual indications on the control panel including the miniature track diagram and to use such changeable display indicator as a storage means in place of the usual relays involved in an indication system. It is proposed that this changeable display indicator device not only display the position of the associated switch or switches but it also display route information, if desired, or suitably control indicator lamps for doing this.

One purpose of the present invention is to provide for the proper selection and operation of the changeable display and storage indicators for the different switch and signal locations involved in the actual track layout and simulated on the miniature track diagram of the control panel.

Another object of the present invention is to be able to etlect the operation of any selected changeable display and storage indicator by the appropriate energization of a set of buses common to all of the indicators.

Another purpose of the present invention is to be able to control various indicator lamps or the like from each display and storage indicator device independently of the condition of any other display and storage indicator device.

Other objects, purposes and characteristic features of the present invention will be in part obvious from the accompanying drawings, and in part pointed out as the description of the invention progresses.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B placed end to end diagrammatically illustrate the control of the display and storage indication system of the present invention as controlled from a conventional code type communication system;

FIG. 2 is a modification of FIG. 1A and when placed end to end with FIG. 1B, diagrammatically illustrates a modified form of control for the display and storage system of the present invention as controlled from a conventional code type communication system;

FIG. 3 is an indication and code chart showing the different positions, displays and codes employed for the control of each display and storage device of the indication system of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 but illustrates that the display of each changeable display and storage indicator may also include route information.

For the pu-np oseof simplifying the illustration and fa cilitating in the explanation, the various parts and circuits constituting the embodiment of the invention have been shown diagrammatically and certain conventional illustrations have been employed, the drawings have been made more with the purpose of making it easy to understand the principles and mode of operation, than with the idea of illustrating the specific construction and arrangernent of plants that would be employed inpractice. Thus, the various relays and their contacts are illustrated in a conventional manner, and the symbols and are employed to indicate the positive and negative terminals, respectively, of suitable batteries, or other sources Olf direct current, instead of showing all of the wiring connections to these terminals; and the circuit with which these symbols are used, always have current flowing in the same direction.

In general, the display and storage system of the present invention comprises a plurality of changeable display and storage indicators controlled over a conventional code type oormnuniaction system in accordance with the usual switch and signal indioationstransmitted from the difierent field locations. One such conventional type of communication system is shown; in the Patent No. 2,399,-

with the indication and code of FIG. 3. V -relay,'such as relay 1ST, is associated with each indioaopposite ends oi a passing siding of a track diagramineluding a main hula-ck TC and a or turn out track BC. For the purpose of definiteness inthe present (lisclosure, it is assumed that a suitable change-able indicaw tor such as shown in new. D. Maynard patent application ser. No. 763,569, filed Sepuemberlo, 1958, now Patient No.,3,l42,053 is located at the'backof the track diagram in such [a Way that its display tape provides the dillerent symbols. shown in FIG. 3 for example. However, itis to be underatood that these changeable display devices do not necessarily have to be located in this manner to have their display form a part of the truck diagram,

but they may be located adjacent to strategic points of intersection of, the various tnacks simulated by the track diagram.

'In addition, each of the display indicator devices lKU and ZKUis showndiaguamrnatically in lower part of FIG.'1A having the same reference characters.

a Each of these indicators is connected to a set of buses 1,2, 3, 4 and 5, through a set of diodes 1D, 2D, 3D, 4D and 5D, by buses a, b c, d and e, respectively. These buses, a, b, etc, further connect each mdicaltor toa posi tive terminal of an energy source through rsignal indication lights associated with a signal lever andthe contacts of a switch'lever in a distinctive manner in accordance tor for providing necessary energy to at [times efieot the tor to its different selectable positions and at other times to allow the illumination c t-the signal indication lighis.

Each oithese station relays is selectively energized in arcspouse toktlre energization of registration relays, RLRZ, R3 and R4 and a last registration relay RX, in certain code combinations as shown in detail in the Patent No.

2,399,734,'granrted to W. D. Hailes et -al., on May 7,1946. In such prior Hailes et :al. patent, there is a s t of indication relays associated with each station. set of indicationrelays is controlled in accordance with codes as received from its respective field station wnen the asso- I V ciatedstaiion relay ST is picked up.

in accordance with the present invention, a singlernas- A station herein are in addition to those contacts found in the above named patent and are therefore numbered differently.

The changeable stona'geindioaiors, such as indicator lKU, are assumed to be of any suitable type such as shown, for example, in the patent application, Ser. No. 763,569, by W; D. Maynard filed on September 26, 195 S.

For convenience in the illustration, the indicator of this disclosure is assumed to be of the ten position type, and fior this reason, ihe structure of [the above-mentioned indicators would mere-ly'have is be 'rnroc -iiied to the extent of providing tl'le proper gear ratios of give the ten different positions ior the display element, In addition, the control cornmutatons would have to be; suitably consnuoted for a ten position indicator. Onewsuch suitable construction of the commuialtors is shown in the Patent No. 3,054,995, granted no N. B; Coley on September 18,

1962. This corrmultanor construction-is provided with ten different prositions corresponding to the ten different posittionsuof the display element- In the present disclosure, only seven oi" these ,ten. diiierent positions are uiilized. This will be apparent byreterring lo the indioa tion and codechart of PEG; 3 where a panticular code combination is allcmted to each one of the seven distinct p oeiticnfl combinations ofthe switch and signal levers used in thisdisclosureior illustrative purposes to provide seven display indications. This particular number of combinations has-been selected for simplicity 1n the (US- closure, but it is to 'be' understood nhat any number of openation oi such changeable display and storage inrdicta- I different combinations may-be employed when desirable;

vin such cases, appropriate numbers ofroonltrol-buses must be used and alteration. in the appropriate. circuitry must be made in conformance with the dificrent codes utilized. With reference to .the'indication and code chart of FIG; 3, it will be noted that a is allotted to three buses whilea (0 is allotted to the remaining two buses for any particular positional combination of "the switch and signal levers. More specifically, the denotes in ter set of indication relay-sis'piovided for controlling the s energization of (the buses for all of the indicators. These indication relays are of course controlledin accordance with theindioation codes received from any field station 'Which switch and signal imil-cations1, f The switch and signal indications thus received by the relays NK,

"RK, RGK and LGK of FIG. 1B are then effective to con trol the p-anticular display and storage indicator device associated'wiih' the station that just transmitted codesto them 'as'represenrted by the station relay ST then onergized. 7 7

i More specifically, the buses 1, 2, 3, i and 5 areseleoted one case that positive energy isapplied tothat particular bus while-tl1e(0)de notes that'no energy is applied to its particular bus. l

' 7 These two symbols (+)-.ancl (0) arealsofsignificant in several other ways. One such way, for instance is in relation to the commutator contacts 1B, 213, etc. By noting the symbol for a particular bus in accordance with a particular combination of the switch'and signal levers, it

will. reveal the position of that particular commutator contact when the changeable storage indicator has been operated to that particular position. For instance, consider the combination of the, switch lever in its N position and thesignal in its stop position. In this instance, energy is'requi'red on buses 2, 3 and '4 while no energy is required .on buses. 1 and 5. When a particularchangeable indithrong'h contact Si} of relay NK, contact 34 of ncl-ay RK, I

contacrtsfifiand 47 of relay RGK, contacts 4d and 48 of a .relay LGK, and contacts 44, 45 and 46 of relay WKP. In addition these buses receive positive. energy through c onltacisljii, 51, 52, 53 andfid'iof relay LV when that relay is picked up.

1 The relay LV is the last stepping relay oi the serles 7 'ol steppingrel-ays of theoode cornmunioaition system and is Ithuspicked up near the end of the cyele, and is main- 'tained picked up through'a stick circuit including its own iront contactsd and a front contact 68 of relay SBuiitil the restoration of the code communicationsysltem to a? cator, such 'as for example lKU, operates to this called for position, commutator contacts 2B, 3B and 4B will be open while contacts 1B and;5B will be closed." .In other words, a (0) denotes a closed commutator contact while a (-1-) denotes an open commutator contact.

V V 7 Another instance where the and (0) have a certain significanoe relates tothe illumination or unillurnlnation of the signal-lights. For example, consider the switch and signal lovers to be in their N and right positions respectively. In

' this instance, commutator contacts 23, sBand SBof indicator'lKU wouldbe open while contacts 1B and 3B are closed. With reference toFlG. 1A- and indicator IKU,

normal atfrest condition at theend of a communication it will be noted that the-light RGE will be illuminated by p l the circuit which extends from (-1-), through back contact 1,6 of relay 1ST, through contact26 of lever GL, through V lightRGE, through bus'c, through closed commutator contact 3B, through back contact 11 of relay 1ST, through resistorRZ'to .The energizing circuit for any one of these signal lights may besimilarly traced withthe aid of the indication andcode chart of FIGJS.

With more particular reference to FIG. 1A, the ten posrtionindicator is operatedto its difi erentpositions by a motor Mjthrough a suitable reduction gearing arrangetional description.

nie'nt which operates the display element and the commutator portions in the manner set forth in the above named Maynard application. The buses, 1, 2, etc. of FIGS. 1A and 1B are energized in the selected code'combinations as shown in the chart of FIG. 3 by energizing a set of indication relays in particular combinationsto disconnect their associated buses from their respective energy sources.

With reference to FIG.- lB, four of the relays included in the master set of indication relays are designated NK, RK, RGK and LGK. Each of these relays has one back contact connected into a particular bus. These contacts are designated 30, 34, 36 and for the relays NK, RK, RGK and LGK respectively. These relays are energized in certain combinations through energizing circuits provided from a energy source and through the step relay contacts as provided in the above named Hailes patent. Also, included in the master set of indication relays is a repeater relay WKP. This relay WKP is a repeater of the NK and RK relays;

Three additional relays shown here and in the above named Hailes patent are designated as SC, SB and LV. These relays are energized in a mannercharacteristic of the centralized traffic control system of this Hailes patent. The positive energy is provided to each of the buses, 1, 2, etc., through front contacts 50, 51, 52, 53 and 54 of relay LV, in accordance with the energized and deenergized conditions of relays NK, RK, RGK, LGK and WKP.

Each of the stations, such as station No. 1, has a station relay, such as relay 1ST, for providing an energy source during its energized condition to permit operation of the motor M. During its deenergized condition and according to the positions of the commutator contacts and the switch and signal levens, opposite energy sources are provided to illuminate any one of the three signal indicator lights. These station relays ST have their energizingc'ircuits selected through front and back contacts of the station code registration relays R1, R2, R3, R4 and RX. As indicated in FIG. 1B, these station code registration relays are energized in certain combinations in accordance with codes received through the step relay contacts as shown in the above named Hailes patent. For example, for station No. 1, the relays R4 and RX are picke'dup while relays R1, R2 and R3 are left dropped away. This provides that the relay 1ST has its energizing circuit established from through front contact 474 of relay RX, through front contact 475 ofrelay R4, through back contact 476 of relay R3, through back contact 477 of relay R2, through back contact 478 of relay R1, over bus 70, through the winding of relay 1ST, to

It is believed that the nature of the present invention, its advantages and characteristic features can be best understood with further description being set forth from the standpoint of operation.

Operation In describing the operation of the present invention, several assumptions will be made to expedite this opera Since the present invention is primarily concerned with the execution of the indication pulses as received from a particular field station, it shall be assumed that the controls transmitted from the control ofiice when the levers GL and WL are positioned have accomplished their individual functions at the field station No. 1, i.e., the switch machine located at the field station No. 1 has assumed a normal or reverse position in accordance with the position of switch lever WL while signals will be displaying suitable signal aspects in accordance with the position of signal lever GL.

Let us assume that the switch lever WL for station No. 1 is in its normal position N and that the signal control lever GL has just been returned to its central stop position. Appropriate controls are effected at the corresponding remote field station, and the indication codes are transmitted over the code communication system to the central office The first part of the code relates to the station registration code for station No. l which positions the station registration relays R1, R2, R3, R4 and RX as above described. This causes the relay 1ST to be picked up.

The indication code in accordance with the existing conditions at the remote field station causes the relay NK to be picked up but the relays RK, RGK and LGK remain dropped away. The closure of front contact 29 of relay NK causes the relay WKP to be picked up. Upon the taking of the last step of the code system, the relay LV is picked up and maintained energized through its stick circuit including its front contact 56 until near the end of the clearout period of the communication system marked by the opening of front contact 60 of relay SB. This causes to be applied to buses 2, 3 and 4 while there is no energy applied to the buses 1 and 5 because back contacts 30 and 46 are open and front contacts 47 and 48 are open. It will be noted that this forms the code on the buses as shown in FIG; 3 of (0) (0). The energy applied to the buses with the station relay 1ST picked up closes front contact 12 so that the motor M is energized until the display indicator assumes the position illustrated in FIG. 3 in which the contacts 1B and 5B are closed but the contacts 28,- 3B and 4B are open.

When the communication system enters the period of rest and releases the relay SB, it opens front contact 69 and in turn deenergizes relay LV. Also, relay SC releases the station code registration relays at the opening of its front contact 53. The release of the station relay 1ST opens its front contact 12 and closes its back contact 11 to apply energy to the bus a through closed contact 1B; but since the contact 27 of the switch lever WL is in its position N, no indication lamps are illuminated. However, the normal position of the switch is displayed on the miniature track diagram for station No. 1. If the operator should move the switch lever WL to its reverse position R, energy would be supplied to the lamp WE from (I), through back contact 10 of relay 1ST, contact 26 of signal lever GL in its central stop position, lamp WE, contact 27 of switch lever WL in a right-hand reverse position R, bus a, closed contact 1B, back contact 11 of relay 1ST, resistor R7, to The illumination of the lamp WE indicates that there is an out-of-correspondence condition between the switch'lever WL and the actual position of the switch at the remote field station. Thus, the operator must either restore the switch lever WL to its left-hand normal position N, or must effect the trans mission of a switch control to the track switch and have .it operated into its reverse position which would result in the transmission of a switch reverse indication to the otfice extinguishing the illumination of the lamp WE. This is because, with the position of the track switch stored in the indicator lKU as being a reverse position with the signals at stop, the indicator 1KU then has the contact 23 closed and the contact 1B open. The energy fed through back contact 11 of relay 1ST and closed contact 2B over bus b obviously connects to the contact 27 with the switch lever WL in its normal position, so that'there is no circuit completed while the switch lever WL is in its reverse position R.

Let us assume that we desire to operate the track switch to its reverse position and to clear a signal for eastbound trafiic over such switch for station No. 1. To do this switch lever WL is moved to its reverse position R the code communication cycle, the relay RK is picked up followed by. the picking up of the relay RGK.

These relays are maintained picked up by the stick circuits including front contacts 32 and 35 of relays RK and RGK respectively and also front contact 57 of cycle marking relay SC. The relays NK and LGK remain deenergized. Closure offront contact 33 of relay RK energizes relay WKP through an obvious circuit. Thus, upon' the taking of the last step in the communication cycle, the

' relay LV is pickedup which results inthe' energization of buses'l, 4 and 5. Buses 2 and dare not energized because of open back contacts 34 and 36 fof relays RK and RGK respectively. It should .also'be noted that back contact 46 of relay .WKP is open, but the bus 'is energized through theclosed front contact 47. of relay RGK.

With the buses. 1, 41and 5 energized, and the station relay 1ST picked up as previously described, energy is supplied through buses a, d and e to the contacts 13, 4B

and 5B in the various combinations which they assume for the positions through which they pass, to the motor M,

front contact 12 of relay 1ST, to The display indicator is' operated from its existing position to the new position called for which is the sixth code position of the chart of FIG. 3 The indicator lKU then displays'that .the switch is in the reverse position. 7,

At the end of theindicationfcycle, when the cycle marking relay SB is' deenergized, therelay LV'is released by the opening of its stickQcircuit at front contact 60 of relay SB. This removes energy from the buses. Then when cycle marking relay SC releases, it opensfront contact 57 to release the master set ofindication'relays in readiness for another cycle of indication reception. The

. manner shown, for example, in the Patent No. 2,038,128 1 granted to N. D. Preston on April 21, 1936.

Inthe Preston Patent No. 2,03 8,128, a switch repeater relay =WP at the field location is provided to indicate the normal locked position, the reverse locked position and the unlocked condition of aswitch machine SM- The relay WP is'of the polar-neutral type. A'front neutral contact in combination with a polar contact closed in one opening of from contact 58 on relay'SC of course opens the stick" circuit for the. station codeiregistration relays rendering them ready for the next cycle of operation. I Their releaseof course deenergizes the station relay 1ST.

., Upon the deenergization of relay 1ST, an energizing circuit is closed for illuminating the indication lamp RGE,

from through back contact 10 of relay 1ST, through contact 26 of lever, GL in a right-hand position, lamp RGE, bus c, commutator .contact'3B, back contact ll of relay 1ST, resistor R'7,Ito This illumination of, the

if lamp RGE indicates that the signals have been cleared to the right with the switch in the reverse position as displayed by the indicator lKU. j r Y The resistor R7 is provided in the energizing circuit of the lamp and obviously limits the current therein. The,

size of the lamp is'of course suitably selected in view of the inclusion of this resistor which is forthe purpose'of; preventing'a short circuit when positive energy is applied f n to the buses 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 for the operation ofthe indi- 'cator for some otlrer station; :It is apparent that during such operation, ;thcre is amomentary instant during the operation of the'indicator at some other station during which the lamps are. shunted, but this is so momentary that it does not materially effect the net result of the indications displayed. The diodes 1D, 2D, 3D, 4D and 5D for the connection of the indicator for each stationto the set of buses 1,2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively, are provided for the purpose to prevent the erroneous energization' of 5 the buses due to' the illumination of the indicator lamps associated with each station. In other words, it is desira- I ble ,toprovide a read-out function to control the energiza tion of the indicator lamps, but this is independent of the operationof the indicators and any energy. employed'must not be fed back onto the buses: 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5. It is described above how the. system of the present invention is operated responsiveto the movement of the switch lever. WL and signal GL in difierent positional combinations. The system is also responsive to received code 'signalsas caused by the operation'of a switch ma- 7 chine at itsfield location either manuallyor by some other i means. ..The operation of a track switch fromfone of its 'positionstothe other position vor unlocked condition is effective to cause an indication cycle to be initiated in the of two polar contact positions operate to indicate the existing position or unlocked condition for the track switchby appropriately coding the line circuit when an indication cycle is initiated. Initiation or an indication cycle from the field station is effective when the track switch is operated from its existing position to an unlockedcondition and from the unlockedcondition to one of ,its two positions by .causinga change relay CH to be operated responsive to the change in' contact movement for appropriately coding the line eircuit. Indication storage relays IN! and 1N located at thecontrol office the different locations in the fieldhaving a track switch,

By contrast, the. relays NKand RK in the: present invention are included in a master set of indication relays as describedabove and operate forfeach indication cycle according to the codes received. jEach of, the indicators, such asindicators IKU and ZKU, are selected forv opera- ,tion when the corresponding station relay 1ST and 2ST is energized. i

In the present invention, it is c'oritemplated that relays NK and RK be operated respon'sive to code signals received from 'a field station wherein control is initiated from the control office or initiated from afield station "in response to the changein position of the track switch.

It is describedabove' how the relays NK and RK operate "responsive to acontrol initiated from the control station by the appropriate selection ofthe switch'lever WL and the signal lever GL. The relay W'P disclosedinthe Preston Patent No. 2,03 8,128 is responsive to such an initiated fcontrol ro'r repeating the position or unlocked condition of the track switch to cause the line'circuit to be appropriately coded for operating the relays NK and RK. In one polar position'ot the relay wWP, a code is transmitted for operating NK only, while alternatively with'the relay WP in the other polar position, anlappropriate code is transmitted for operating the relay RK. In either case,

the buses 1-5are energized with energy in the ap- V propriate combination to operate the selected indicator to display the corresponding indicator display in the manner described above.

With a track switch in an unlockedstalled condition as could be caused by a malfunction or by actual manual operation at the track switch,v the relay WP is deenergized which opens the neutralcontact of the relay and thus prevents. any indication circuits from beingcompleted.

As disclosed in the Preston Patent No. 2,03 8,128, the line circuit is appropriately coded to'cause the storage relays 7 IN and IN to remain deenergized.

. In the present invention, the master 1 ndication relays ,NK andRK'in response to line'coding as caused by the unlocking ofa trackswitch remain dropped. away. Relay 'WKP being dependent upon either relaylNK or RK energized also remains dropped away. Its contacts 42 and 43 remain open thuspreventing the'respective'energizing circuits for relays'RGK and LGK from being completed.

Upon pick up. of relayLV, toward the end of the indicanon cycle, (l energyis supplied to buses-3; 4 and 5 through the contacts 86, 40 and 46 ofrelays RGK, LGK

"and WKP. respectively for operating an indicator, such as indicator 1KU, for example, when its corresponding relay 1ST is energized, to a blank indicator display for indicating the unlocked condition of the track switch.

Referring to FIG. 2, a modified form is illustrated in which the circuit apparatus associated with each station is connected to the buses 1, 2, 3, 4 and through contacts of the station registering relay, rather than using the diodes 1D, 2D, 3D, 4D and SD of FIG. 1A.

More specifically, referring to FIG. 2, the buses, a, b, c, d and e for station No. 1 are connected through front contacts 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 respectively of the relay 1ST to the buses 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

The use of the contacts 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 completely isolates the indicator lamp energizing circuits from the buses 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. When any particular display indicator such as lKU is operated, the station relay such as 1ST is picked up so that the operation is eifected in the same way as above described in connection with FIG. 1A. In this connection it should be understood that FIG. 2 should be replaced for FIG. 1A to the left of FIG. IE to completely show the modified form thus considered.

This form of FIG. 2 and FIG. 13 has the distinct advantage that the operation of a display indicator for one station by the energization of the main control buses 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 does not in any way affect the lamps which are illuminated for all of the other stations which are at such time wholly isolated from the main control buses.

With reference to FIG. 4, it will be noted that the same indicator positions for the display indicator and the same codes are employed for the buses as discussed above in connection with FIG. 3. However, in this figure the indicator display includes small arrows adjacent the track switch illustration on the display tape of the indicator. These arraows are for the purpose of incorporating the signal indication and the direction of trafiic for cleared signals. This illustrates in a simple manner that the dis- 7 play tape for each position may have the connotation of Summary From the above description and consideration of the several forms of the present invention, it will be apparent that an indication and storage system has been disclosed in which a multiple position display indicator is employed both for displaying information and for storing information which can be displayed by other means such as lamps. The control of these display indicators has been shown as being effected over a set of buses common to all indicators so that the number of indication relays required in a code type communication system involves only a master set of indication relays which is positioned for each cycle of indication reception, which can then have the received indications for that cycle transferred to the appropriate indicator. This type of control has been shown as effected in two diiferent ways. For example, the buses relating to each station may be isolated from the master control buses either by the use of diodes or by the use of selecting contacts.

Having described an indication and storage system having at least two forms as specific embodiments of the present invention, it is desired to be understood that these forms are selected to facilitate in the disclosure of the invention rather than to limit the number of forms which it may assume; and, it is further to be understood that various modifications, adaptations, and alternations may be applied to the specific forms shown to meet the requirements of practice, without in any manner departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an indication and storage system for a track switch in a track layout, a track diagram of said track layout, a changeable display and storage indicator located on said track diagram including a movable display element operable to at least three ditferent symbolic positions representative of the different characteristic positions and unlocked condition of said track switch, and circuit means controlled by the positions and unlocked condition of said track switch for controlling said changeable display and storage indicator to a corresponding position.

2. In an indication and storage system for a track switch in a track layout, a miniature track diagram of said track layout, a changeable display and storage indicator for said track switch disposed in said track diagram to have its movable display element located at a point the'reo'n corresponding to the location of the actual track switch in the track layout, and having on its display element at least three diiferent symbols representative of the characteristic positions and condition of said track switch, certain of said symbols cooperating with'said track diagram to display an existing established route, and circuit means for said track switch of the track layout controlled in accordance with the positions and condition of s'ucli track switch for controlling said changeable display and storage indicator to a corresponding position.

3. A panel having inscribed thereon a diagram of a track layout including at least a portion of one track switch, a changeable display and storage indicator mounted on said panel at a point representative of said track switch and having a movable display element operable to at least three different positions characteristic of the different positions and unlocked condition of said track switch and having a symbol on said display element for each position to cause said track diagram to be completed by such symbolic representation, and circuit means controlled by the positions and unlocked condition of said track switch for operating said changeable display and storage indicator display element to a corresponding position.

4. In an indication and storage system, a panel having partially inscribed thereon a diagram of a track layout including at least one track switch, a changeable display and storage indicator mounted on said panel at a point representative of said track switch and having a movable display element and contacts operable to a number of different positions characteristic of the different positions and unlocked condition of said track switch and having a symbol on said movable display element for each such position which symbol is representative of the switch condition for that position and completes such track diagram for said track switch, circuit means controlled in accord ance with the position of said track switch for operating said changeable display and storage indicator display element to a position corresponding to the existing position or unlocked condition of said track switch and indication circuit means controlled by said contacts of said display and storage indicator in its different positions for indicating the controlled conditions of said indicator.

5. In an indication and storage system for a track switch and associated signals in a track layout, a track diagram of said track layout, a changeable display and storge indicator mounted on said track diagram and in- .cluding a display element and changeable contact means being concurrently operable to a plurality of symbolic positions, each position being distinctively representative of a characteristic position of said track switch and a condition of said signals, and circuit means controlled jointly by the position of said track switch and the condition of said signals for controlling said changeable display and storage indicator to a corresponding position.

6. The system according to claim 5 wherein a plurality of lamps are located adjacent said track diagram for pro viding indications representative of the conditions of said signals, and circuit means controlled by said changeable c of said signals.

7. In an indication and storage system for a track'switch' and associated signals in' a track layout, a track diagram 'of said track layout, a changeable indication and storage 7 contact means for controlling the selective e nei'gization of said plurality of lamps in accordance with the conditions indicator mounted on said track diagram and including a display element and a plurality of changeable contacts being concurrently operable by an included electroresponsive means to a plurality of symbolic positions, each posilect ed lamp according to eluded relay. means for each of said indicators, said isolation being distinctively representative of a characteristic position of'said track switch and a condition of said sig V rials, circuit means controlled jointly by. the position of said track switch and the condition of said signalsifor controlling said electroresponsive means of said change- -able-indication and storage'indicator to a condition Where .a corresponding position is displayed by said indicator.

8. The system according to claim 7 wherein a plurality r of lamps are located adjacent said track diagram for pro viding indications representative of the conditions of said contacts accordingto the uncontrolled condition of said 'electro'responsive means for controlling the selective en .of' said signals. v

9. In an indication and storage system for a plurality signals, and circuit means controlled by said changeable of'tra'ck switches and their respective associated signals in r 'a track layout, a track'diagram of-said track layout, a

- plurality of changeable displayand storageindicatorsindividual tosaid plurality of track switches mounted on said track diagram, each said indicator including a display element and changeablescontact means being concurrently operable to a plurality of symbolicpositions, each position of saiddisplay element and said changeable contact means beingdistinctively representative of a characteristic position of their respective said track switch and a condition of the associated said signals, and circuit means of track" switches in a track layout, a track diagram of 7 partially common to each of said plurality of track switches and controlled jointly by the position of afs aid track switch and the condition of the associatedsaid signals for controlling an electrically. connected and selected rality of changeable display and storage indicators con vtrolledf'by said changeable contact means thereof for controlling the selective energization of the associated saidpluralityof lamps in accordance with the conditions of theassociatedsaid signals. i s V V I o 11. The system according to claim 10 wherein said partially common circuit meansincludes a plurality of V. relays adapted to be energized in a distinctive combination according to the responsive positions 'and'conditions respectively of a particular said track switch and its said associated signals, and a plurality of operating buses 12'. The system according to' claim 11 whereinother circuit means is providedsfor each, of said changeable display and storage indicators for connecting its changeable contacts to respective of said operating buses, isolationmeans for each saidchangeable display and'storage indicator electrically connected in its said other circuit 'means and adapted to isolate control energy fro'm sajid :sope'rating buses provided tocausedllurninatibn ot a se tion means being a plurality of diodes, one for each of said operating buses, and a resistor included with said circuit means for each of said plurality of changeable display and storage indicators according "to the uncontrolled condition of said relay means associated therewith, whereby control energy is applied through a contact of said relay means, through a selected said lamp and through said resistor with such diodes isolating such control energy from said oper'atinglbuses;

14. The system according to claim 12 Wherein'each of said plurality of changeable display and storage indicators is selected according to selective control of an ineluded relay means foreachof said plurality of indicators, said isolation means being a plurality of lfront contacts of said relay means for each of said plurality of indicators, one for each of said-operating buses, whereby a selected one of said plurality of indicators is controlled according to said distinctive application of control energy 'to said operatingbuseswith each of said front contacts plurality of front contacts for each of the other of said plurality of indicators being electrically disconnected.

15. In an indication and storage system for a plurality said track layoutya' plurality of changeable display and storage indicators individual'to said plurality. of track switches located on said trackldiag ram,seachsaid indicator including-a movable display element operable to 'at least three symbolic positionsrepresentative of the different characteristic positions and unlocked" condition of its associated track switch, and circuit means partially fccrnmontoeach of said plurality of track switches COR? trolledby the positions and junlocked condition of a changeable display and storage indicator to a correspond- 'ing'position. a V j V 10. The system according to claim 9 wherein a plural- .ityof lamps are located adjacent said track diagram with Leach of said plurality of ltra'ck switches for providing indications representative-of the conditions of respective of said signals, and circuit means'tor each of'said plu-s particular track switch for controlling the selected changeable display and] storage indicator to avcorresponding' position. 7

' 16. In an indication and storage system for a plurality of track switches in a ,track layout, a miniature track "diagram of said track layout, a plurality of changeable display and storage indicators, one ,for each of said pluralityof track switches mounted on said track diagram to have an included movable display element located at a point thereon correspondingto the location of the respective actual track switch injthe track layout, said 1 movable display element'for each or said plurality of changeable display and storage-indicators being operable to a .number of. different positions characteristic of the difiierent positions and unlocked condition of its respective said. track switch and having'symbols on said display element for each position to cause said track diagram to be completed by such symbolic representation for said plurality of track switche and circuit means partially common to said plurality of changeable display and storage indicators controlled by the positions and unlocked condition of a particular track switch for operating an associated said changeable display and storage indicator to a corresponding position. 7 f

'17. The system according to claim 16 wherein each of includes a plurality of changeable contacts-operable to adapted to be 'contro'llcdin a distinctive" combination according to each position-and the condition of a particular one of said plurality of trackswitchega plurality of operating buses'eleotricallyi connected to each of said a distinctive combination of i said plurality of changeable display and storage indicators changeable display and storage indicators through respective said changeable contacts adapted to be energized ac-' cording to said distinctive combination of control for said relays, whereby control energy is applied to a selected one of said plurality of indicators through its said changeable contacts for energizing its said energizable control means.

18. The system according to claim 17 wherein a relay means is provided with each of said plurality of changeable display and storage indicators adapted to be selectively energized according to each position and the unlocked condition of the associated said track switch, contacts of each said relay means being connected between said operating buses and said changeable contacts therefor, whereby the electrical connection of said operating buses to each of said plurality of changeable display and storage indicators is selective.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Johanek 246-122 Sortore 340-324 Wheeler 340-324 Hudge 246-5 Loughridge 340-147 Chervenka 340-332 Lazich 340-378 Motte 340-324 Preston 246-5 Smith 340-378 Coley 340-334 15 LEO QUACKENBUSH, Primary Examiner.

JAMES s. SHANK, Examiner. 

1. IN AN INDICATION AND STORAGE SYSTEM FOR A TRACK SWTCH IN A TRACK LAYOUT, A TRACK DIAGRAM OF SAID TRACK LAYOUT, A CHANGEABLY DISPLAY AND STORAGE INDICATOR LOCATED ON SAID TRACK DIAGRAM DISPLAY AND STORAGE INDICATOR LOCATED ON SAID ABLE TO AT LEAST INCLUDING A MOVABLE DISPLAY ELMENT OPERTATIVE OF THE DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTIC POSITIONS AND UNLOCKED CONDITION SAID TRACK SWITCH, AND CIRCUIT MEANS CONTROLLED BY THE POSITIONS AND UNLOCKED CONDITION OF SAID TRACK SWITCH FOR CONTROLLING SAID CHANGEABLE DISPLAY AND STORAGE INCIDATOR TO A CORRESPONDING POSITION. 